National Mineral Resources University (Mining University) (Russia):

Sizyakov V. M., Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, Professor
Brichkin V. N., Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Head of Chair
Sizyakova E. V., Ph. D. in Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor

E-mail (common): kafmetall@mail.ru

RIVS, Research & Production Group (Russia):

Nazarov Yu. P., Ph. D. in Engineering Sciences, Associate Professor, Director of Technology Research, y_nazarov@rivs.ru

The prospects for the Russian alumina production mineral raw material base development are related to a considerable degree with utilization of low-grade aluminium raw material resources of natural and man-caused origin. The abandoned tailings storage facilities, formed in the early periods of the AO «Apatit» operation, containing mineral mass of apatite-nepheline ores flotation processing tailings, constitute a significant potential. Mineral mass particle-size analysis with subsequent determination of chemical composition with respect to size fractions and mineralogical-petrographic analysis permitted to verify that bulk chemical composition was maintained with considerable material grinding as a result of disintegration and intensive alteration (oxidation, sericitization, zeolitization) of all available minerals with transformation of middlings into clayey aggregates. The studies with a view to produce nepheline concentrate from aged dumped tailings were performed with application of a standard set of methods and laboratory equipment. Feed materials were ground in mills with pivot shaft, with subsequent separation of sub-samples by jet sample divider. Flotation was accomplished in laboratory flotation machines with cell volume from 250 ml to 3.0 l. Significant effects upon saleable nepheline concentrate production indices, resulting from feed material deslimation regime, acidity and cationic composition of medium, collector (sulfate soap) consumption and dosing method, magnetic separation of ore minerals and regrinding of coarse size fractions, are shown. Processing indices were checked in cycling experimental regime, which demonstrated a possibility of production of saleable nepheline concentrate with mass fraction of Аl₂О₃ being 29.1 %, recovery being 56.3 %, providing for development of a qualitative weighted flow sheet for apatite production aged dumped tailings processing. The produced concentrate processing indices, checked at the metallurgical processing stage, verified the possibility of achieving high indices in recovery of Аl₂О₃ and Na₂О into processing products.

The work was performed with the financial aid from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (government order, project No. 14.577.21.0127, dated 20 October 2014; UIPNI RFMEFI57714X0127).

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